At sunrise on October 17, more than 12,000 walkers gathered on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland park to make a lasting impact on the lives of local families by taking part in CHOC Walk in the Park presented by Disneyland Resort. In honor of the event’s 20th anniversary, Disneyland Resort President George A. Kalogridis surprised CHOC Children’s Hospital with a special $200,000 donation, bringing total funds to a record $2 million raised in a single year. The Disney VoluntEARS team – composed of Disney cast members, friends and family – was the largest in terms of funds raised. The walk is the organization’s largest fund-raising event and has raised more than $16 million since its inception.

There is no bigger Mariah Carey fan than the talented and charismatic Finis Gaston, a shining star in his own right in his Baker, Florida neighborhood. Imagine his surprise when the music legend came to the small town where he takes care of his niece and nephews. Finis was coaching one of his cheerleading sessions yesterday, Monday, October 18, when Carey announced to the Gaston family that they are the latest recipients of an “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

“Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa,” featuring the voice of Betty White as Mrs. Claus, is slated to air Tuesday, December 7 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), during the holiday classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The seven-minute animated short is the second installment from the Emmy Award®-winning franchise “Prep & Landing.” Both specials will also air again on Thursday, December 16.

Jay Leno and Dr. Phil McGraw guest star as themselves when international superstar Hannah Montana contemplates removing her blonde wig and telling the world she’s really Miley Stewart, in a one hour episode of “Hannah Montana Forever” premiering Sunday, November 7 (7:30-8:30 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. It will be available first as part of an episode compilation DVD, “Hannah Montana: Who is Hannah Montana?,” releasing November 2 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Disney announces an online contest on Family.com to win a trip to the grand opening celebration of Disney Store’s Times Square, New York City location on November 9 and a starring role during the star-studded opening ceremony. The crown jewel of Disney Store’s slate of store openings around the world this year, the Times Square location will be celebrated with magical festivities including celebrity appearances, live musical performances, a parade of Disney’s most beloved characters and interactive experiences storewide. Beginning October 19, Disney fans will have just one week to register online for the chance to join the fun in-person, win a $250 shopping spree, and have the distinction of their child taking the stage to turn the key to imagination and officially unlock the all-new Disney Store in Times Square. The lucky family will also meet award winning singer Jordin Sparks during a private VIP reception after she performs Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” theme song, which she rerecorded to celebrate the 2010 release of the Blu-Ray and DVD.

Yesterday’s big news for Disney Cruise Line was offering up the date for the maiden voyage of their fourth ship, the Disney Fantasy. Announced to be setting sail on April 7, 2012, bookings will begin to open up to the public this week. What wasn’t widely announced, however, were the details offered during a series of webinars aimed at Disney Travel Agents to update them on the Disney Cruise Line fleet and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. It was during the pre-recorded presentation that another Disney Fantasy maiden voyage was given — that of April 14, 2012, a day that would live in infamy. Not so much for the launch of the new ship, but the fact that it would have been 100 years earlier to the day that the billed-as-unsinkable RMS Titanic met its tragic fate during its own maiden voyage. Apparently the correlation may have gone unnoticed when the date was initially set and it appears DCL has since decided to move the date up by a week. It’s unclear when the presentation was recorded, but the press release may have been issued prior to the presentation (which promised to reveal new information to the travel agents) so that the original date didn’t get any press.

The Walt Disney Studios collaborated with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) to co-create a highly interactive exhibit at the USA Science & Engineering Festival, which will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., October 23-24, 2010, from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. each day. The hands-on experience blends themes from the upcoming major motion picture “TRON: Legacy” with the NAE’s Grand Challenges for Engineering.

Visitors to the Disney-NAE exhibit will be able to:

View and photograph real props from the film including the SHIVA laser

The Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios announced they have reached an agreement under which Paramount will transfer its worldwide marketing and distribution rights to Disney forMarvel Studios’ The Avengers and Iron Man 3. Paramount will remain the worldwide distributor of the upcoming films, Thor and Captain America, as well as the previously released Iron Man and Iron Man 2.

Under terms of the new deal, Disney will pay Paramount $115 million for the transfer of the distribution rights to Iron Man 3 and The Avengers to be paid on the theatrical release dates. These monies will serve as a minimum guarantee against the distribution fees.